The cohabitation evidence file that survives scrutiny

The test in a spousal or common-law application is whether the relationship is genuine and was not entered into primarily for immigration. Officers weigh the file as a whole. A thin file with a strong narrative loses to a plain file with consistent documentary depth.

The three evidence pillars

1. Continuity of cohabitation or contact. For common-law, a 12-month continuous period living together, proven with overlapping address documents in both names — lease, utilities, bank correspondence, government mail, insurance. For couples who have lived apart, a dense and dated record of communication and visits.
2. Financial interdependence. Joint accounts with actual activity, shared bills, beneficiary designations, money transfers between partners over time, a joint lease or mortgage. One joint account opened the month before filing is not interdependence.
3. Recognition by others. Photos across time and settings with dates and named people, statements from family and friends who explain how they know the couple, invitations addressed to both, travel itineraries together.

Common weaknesses to pre-empt

• A gap in the cohabitation timeline. Explain it in the sponsor letter with supporting documents (a work posting, a visa refusal that forced separation).
• Large age, cultural or prior-marriage differences. Do not hide them — address them plainly in the narrative so the officer does not treat them as an unexplained red flag.
• Sparse early relationship record. People rarely document the first months. A short honest account of how they met, with whatever exists, beats a reconstructed one.

Interview readiness

If the file goes to interview, prep both partners on the same facts: how they met, daily routines, family names, finances. Inconsistency on small shared facts does more damage than a missing document.